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Studying Abroad

Want to experience living in a new culture? Want to meet new people from all around the world? Like the idea of learning a new language? Then studying abroad could well be for you and getting it organised is a lot easier than you might think.

A lot of people just aren’t aware of the opportunities to study abroad that going to university can bring. Most universities in the UK now have programmes in place to help students benefit from all the advantages of studying and living in another country.

And many people wrongly think you need to speak Dutch to study in the Netherlands or Finnish to study in Finland – many exchange programmes provide English language courses throughout Europe and even further afield.

Studying abroad in Europe – Erasmus
The Erasmus programme – short for European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (Ed: now why did they shorten that?!) – has enabled over a million higher education students to study in other European countries.

Erasmus study placements are usually for 3 to 12 months in one of 30 other European countries as part of a degree course. many courses ran in conjunction with Erasmus are provided in English – you don’t have to know another language to go and study in a university in another country if you’re studying through Erasmus.

Eligible students receive an Erasmus grant which contributes towards the extra costs arising from studying abroad. Erasmus grants are paid in addition to the standard grants or loans to which you are entitled.

If you’ve not yet selected which university you’re going to but really want to study abroad, you can call or email some of the universities you are interested in to ask them about the studying abroad opportunities they provide.

Links and contact details

Name: British Council – Erasmus pages
Web:www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus
E-mail: erasmus@britishcouncil.org
Tel: 029 2039 7405
Info: The British Council’s Erasmus team is based in the British Council’s, Wales office in Cardiff. Call them for more info on the Erasmus programme.

Name: National Union of Students.
Web:www.nus.org.uk/en/student-life/Your-study/Studying-abroad/
Email:
Tel:
Info: The NUS’ studying abroad pages.

Name: gogapyear.com
Web:www.gogapyear.com
Email:
Tel:
Info: Essential advice for gap year travvelers. Set up by the UK government with partners.

Name: Know Before You Go
Web:www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/about-kbyg-campaign/
Email:
Tel:
Info: Set up by the UK Government with partner organisations.

Name: Travel Advice by Country – Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Web:www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
Email:
Tel:
Info: The FCO’s travel advice for every country.

Name: Studying Abroad – article in The Times
Web:www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/how_to_get_a_job/article3363791.ece
Email:
Tel:
Info:

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